Which saw

[23vc]

Hi,
Not treated myself for years so happy to splash out. Currently doing some floating shelves and need to cut long 50mm strips of 6mm mdf bang on , my existing ryobi circular and home made ply guide just isn't giving the accuracy I need although it's been fine for other stuff for years. I also need to trim some Oak veneer doors next, so I'm thinking go for it and buy a plunge saw as I've been tempted for years. Either that or a table saw but my main uses are cutting sheet materials, doors, worktops.
Anyway budgets about 300 quid and any opinions, advice, suggestions welcome
Cheers
John

 

[foxhole]

The cheap table saws are fine for small stuff like ripping you mdf. Veneer oak doors don't usually lend themselves to having bits sawn off.

 

[vinn]

DeWalt DWS520KTL guide rail and plunge saw kits are excellent - but make sure you get the complete kit if you buy one off Ebay.
£250 to £350

 

[23vc]

Cheers. Yeah I was tempted by the £100 table saws in screwfix but am thinking the plunge saw will be better all round as I can do more with it. (Including cutting the oak veneer doors, with the right blade and all the anti splinter stuff and the ability to score cut it first)
Vinn seen a lot of reviews of the dewalt and makita plunge saws saying pay the extra and get the festool, but I'll check out that dewalt, you ever trimmed veneer doors with it?
Cheers

 

[23vc]

Very tempted by this, 140 cheaper than the festool http://www.ffx.co.uk/tools/product/...unge-Saw-With-1.5M-Guide-Rail-T-Stak-Kit-240V

 

[vinn]

The Festool is the best without a doubt but guys I trust swear by the DeWalt for doors and finish work.
No, I've never cut a door with the DW. Mostly I would shave off with a plane or belt sander.

 

[23vc]

One more question Vinn on the dewalt do you need to get the clamps for it or does it grip well, I am virtually decided on it now looks a great piece of kit.

 

[vinn]

These rails are remarkable for their grip stability, and are good to go as is - and DW have stopped putting the clamps in the kit and I now see want £52 for them.
So we just go with the bare kit I guess.

 

[chappers]

I used to have a dewalt which at the time I thought was great, I now have a Festool, there is no comparison. I have never used clamps with either.
On the subject of the rails, the rubber grips kept falling off of the Dewalt, I have had this Festool rail for 2 years now and the grips are still perfect and the other one was about the same before it got run over and the grips were perfect until then. I reckon the Dewalt ones started to come unstuck after about 6 months, also the anti splinter strips are much tougher on the festool too.
If you can afford/justify the extra for the festool go for it.

 

[big-all]

i have the old 18v dewalt thats identical to the mains one
to stop the rubber coming off you trim 6mm off the end so when you stand the track upright on the ground the rubber is untouched so wont get knocked off

 

[vinn]

Your the man big-all!

 

[23vc]

Cheers all for the replies, I've bought the dewalt 240v, can't wait to get my hands on it. Can't justify the festool sadly, don't use it enough

 

[chappers]

To be fair you won't be disappointed. It will revolutionise your cutting.

 

[big-all]

i have only once used clamps as a precaution just once normal solo clamps are all you need
but to be honest wasn't nesisary what you need to remember you have the weight off the machine then a spring to lift the machine so you need far more than the machine weights to hold it down so a good 4 kilo pushing down on the track and by nature your other hand will push down in front off the saw then behind it as you progress
draw a pencil line about 175mm from the start end off the track
use this to line up with the start cut position on the board edge
if its a bit short at the start edge the machine can get slightly "hooked up" where the end off the track hooks up under on the adjustment mechanism now its only perhaps 0.5mm movement but as the rubber is cut by the blade on the first cut this can slightly chew up the first few mm very slightly off line can also cause the track to move iff you over react in moving/lifting when clearing the end

 

[Roger928]

Mafell are more expensive than festool. Made in Germany also. No surprise there.
The mafell plunge saw has a unique feature for scoring.

Screwfix are selling them.

The KSS60 36B is their latest machine.
With the recoil rails its like having a totally portable SCMS that you take to the plank and not the other way round. And just as accurate.

Festool have now adopted the recoil rails also. I think mafell got there first though.